100 Years of Eastern High School

Over the last few months, The Story of Our Schools has worked with students and the school community to uncover the fascinating history of Eastern High School.

We are now transforming our findings into a museum-quality exhibit that will be permanently installed on school grounds and open to the public during school visiting hours.

The tentative installation is scheduled for spring 2023.

Our exhibit, called 100 Years of Eastern High School, will be proudly displayed in the main lobby of the school, wrapping itself around the alumni staircase. This space will greet visitors with a visual timeline of the school’s history. Three-dimensional artifacts will be displayed in the case directly behind the staircase, and a digital archive will show the students’ films and can be updated for years to come with new films and photographs.

Franklin McCain, a prominent civil rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four, was an Eastern alum. In honor of his incredible contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, the exhibit will include a replica of Woolworth’s diner counter where his famous sit-in occurred. Our “counter” will display student activism at Eastern throughout time and provide a space in which students can meet and engage with the exhibit content directly.

This professionally designed and fabricated exhibit will deepen the community’s understanding of the history of the school community, inform and excite prospective families and residents, enhance parent and family engagement, and create engaging learning tools for teaching history, research skills, and critical thinking.